Advertising sign construction



June 30, 1964 A COBB 3,138,886

ADVERTISING SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed D80. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jue3o, 1964 J. A. COBB 3,138,886

ADVERTISING SIGN CONSTRUCTION Filed DeC. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2United States Patent O 3,138,886 ADVERTISING SIGN CONSTRUCTION .less A.Cobb, Oak Park, Ill., assigner to Chicago Cardboard Products Company,Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed Dec. 28, 1961, Ser. No.162,796 6 Claims. (Cl. 40-125) This invention relates to an advertisingdisplay sign. It more specifically is concerned with a mount forsupporting removable sign placards and the like which facilitates theinstallation or removal of the sign placard.

' Advertising display signs intended for outdoor use generally employ asign-holding assembly for removably attaching to a mounting means apanel having imprinted thereon advertising material. The sign-holdingassembly is usually attached to an elevated standard. In the design ofsuch sign holders, it is desirable to facilitate the installation and/or removal of the advertising panel in order to provide flexibility forvariations in advertising campaigns. With such installations a plannedcampaign involving a series of advertising placards designed forsequential mounting on the same support means can be used anddistributed to the advertising display site for installation.

Because of the labor involved in the installation or replacement ofadvertising display signs, sign-holding assemblies and other supportmeans of various types have been used. The methods for aixing theadvertising display placard to the sign-holding assembly, however, hasbeen unsatisfactory because they generally involve the use of threadedfasteners or other similar removable fastening means which require asometimes dicult manual manipulation to eifect the securing of thefastener to a suitable sign-holding support assembly. The installationand replacement of advertising placards on the mounting bracket isgenerally done by inexperienced help, r under adverse conditions ofweather and the like. Accordingly, the need for a simple mountingarrangement has been recognized which eliminates the problem of separatefasteners removable from the sign-holding assembly, permits theinstallation to be made with inexperienced help by a single installerand yet permits the rapid installation and removal of the displayplacard on the sign-holding assembly.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a sign-holdingassembly which employs a mounting means for removably holding anadvertising display placard or the like thereon. The mounting meanscomprises a plurality of spring-loaded toggle clamps which arepositioned on the assembly and which are adjustable from a verticalposition with respect to the face of the assembly to a position in whichthe toggle clamps are biased against the base member of the supportmeans. The former position permits a removable display placard to beeasily installed on said toggles and the latter position permits theplacard to be clamped rmly against the support means Without the use ofremovable fasteners.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view showing the installation of anillustrative embodiment of this invention mounted on an uprightstandard.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged view of FIGURE 1 showing in exploded form thedetails of the sign-holding assembly with the advertising displayplacard aligned for positioning on the sign-holding assembly.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of FIGURE 2 showing a pair ofplacards mounted back to back on the illustrative sign-holding assembly.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view of one type of springloaded toggle which isemployed as a clamping member 3,138,886 Patented June 30, 1964 ice I forholding the advertising display placard in place on the sign-holdingassembly.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the toggle assembly of FIGURE 4 showing theclamping member in reduced scale.

FIGURE 6 is an alternative clamping member which can also be utilizedfor holding the advertising display placard in place on the bracketassembly.

FGURE 7 is a fragmentary View of another position for mounting theclamping member on the sign support.

Referring to the drawings, in the illustrative specific embodiment shownin FIGURE l, an upright standard 16 such as a pole sign, or the like, isemployed to support the advertising sign mounting assembly of thisinvention in an elevated position. The frame assembly 11 comprises amount 13 to which the advertising display placard 12 is attached bymeans of spring-loaded toggle clamps 14. As shown in FIGURE 2, themounting comprises a rectangular frame having side members 15 maintainedin spaced vertical position by means of the upper and lower horizontalmembers 16 and 16 which are spread apart into a bowed configuration tostraddle upright standard 1t). The horizontal members 1o and 16 are heldin frictional engagement on the pole 10 by means of threaded studs 17and 17 which traverse holes provided in the horizontal members andextend beyond the face of the frame assembly 11 if desired. |Threadedfasteners 18 and 1S engage the terminal ends of studs 17 and 17 and pullthe bowed horizontal members into engagement with the pole 10 to holdthe frame assembly 11 in place. In extending beyond the outer faces ofthe frame assembly 11, the studs 17 and 17' have a preliminary functionwhich facilitates the mounting of the advertising placard 12 as willhereinafter be discussed.

Peripherally mounted on the horizontal and vertical members 15, 16 and16 of the frame assembly 11 in spaced relationship to each other are aplurality of springloaded toggle clamps 14, each having a pivotallymounted toggle 21 which can be adjusted from a position normal to theface of the frame assembly on which it is mounted to a clamping positionsubstantially parallel to the face of the frame assembly 11 in order tohold the placard 12 mounted thereon tightly against the face of theframe assembly 11. As seen from FIGURE 2, the advertising placard 12 isprovided with a plurality of apertures 22 having a pattern registeringwith the mounting pattern of toggle clamps 14.

As hereinbefore mentioned, additional holes 23 and 23 can be providedfor hanging temporarily the placard on the protruding terminal ends ofthe threaded studs 17 and 17 during the initial installation in order topermit the subsequent alignment of the apertures 22 in the placard 12with the toggle clamps 14. After the apertures have been aligned withthe toggles 21 which are in the vertical mounting position, the placard12 is moved into abutment with the frame assembly such that the toggles21 extend through the apertures 22. The spring-loaded toggle 21 is thenadjusted into the clamping position. Because of the biasing action ofthe toggle 21, the placard 12 is held firmly against the face of theframe assembly 11 as shown in FIGURE 1.

If desired, the opposed face of the frame assembly 11 can also beprovided, as shown in the drawings, with toggle clamps 14 in order thatanother advertising placard 24 can be positioned on the opposite face ofthe assembly 11. To facilitate the installation of the toggle clamps 14,they can be mounted opposite each to the other such that a singlefastener 26, such as a rivet or the like, can be used to secure the pairof clamps 14 to the opposed faces of the assembly 11. As shown in FIGURE2, the pivotal axis 25 of the toggle 21 is aligned with thelongitudinal` adsense axis of the framing members I5 and 16. If desired,the width of the framing members can be narrowed by changing the pivotalaxis 26 to a position normal with the axis of the framing members asshown in FGURE 7.

As shown in the drawings, the mounting clamp which is employed has apivotal toggle arm member which is springloaded such that the arm can bebrought into iased engagement with the placard in cooperation with theface of the frame assembly Ill to provide a means for clamping theadvertising placard l2 between the arm member and the face of themounting bracket.

In FIGURES 4 and 5 is shown a preferred clamp which can be utilized inthe advertising sign assembly of this invention. In FIGURE 4, the topclamp shows the toggle in an upright position for mounting the signwhile the bottom clamp is in clamping engagement with a sign l2. Thisclamp 2t) consists of a trifurcated base member 43 having a pair ofresilient outer arms 4I and 42 and an intermediate arm 43 connected bymeans of a web portion 44. The free terminal ends of the outer arms 4Iand 42 are formed into an arcuate configuration as shown in FIGURE 4.The pivotal toggle arm 45 is of a width substantially the same as thewidth of the intermediate arm 43 and comprises a shank portion 46 fromone end of which laterally depends a pair of opposed trunnions 47 whichregister with the arcuate terminal portion of outer arms 4l and 42. Thetrunnions 47 preferably have a width to thickness ration ofsubstantially greater than one in order that a biased action can beeffected by the resiliency of the outer arms 4l and 42 when the arm 45moves into a clamping position. To the other end of the shank portion 46of clamping arm 45 is attached a curved terminal end 4S which curvesdownwardly below the lower face of the base member when the shankportion 46 and the base member 4@ are in a substantially parallelposition. When the curved bottom of the terminal end liti is moved intosubstantial alignment with the plane of the base member, there isexerted a biasing effect upon any surface with which it engages andwhich rests on the face of the frame assembly cooperating with thetoggle arm.

In order to prevent the clamping arm from being moved into a replicateposition about 180 back from its clamping position, an outwardlyextending detent 50 is used. As seen from FIGURE 4, this holds thetoggle arm 45 in a vertical position and prevents the clamping arm frombeing urged over backwards into an unwieldy position making it moredifficult to align the clamping arm in its mounting position for thesubsequent mounting of an advertising placard 12. The bowed terminal end4S of the clamping arm 45 can also be provided with a barb-like boss 51which forms a detent impression in the face of the advertising placardin the event that a soft material is used to form the placard I2. Thishelps to retain the sign in position on the frame assembly 11 andresists any accidental movement of the sign 12 which might be caused bywind loads and the like.

Other variations of mounting clamps can also be ernployed in thesign-holding assembly of this invention such as the alternativeembodiment shown in FIGURE 6. In FIGURE 6, as in FIGURE 4, the top viewshows the clamping member in a sign mounting position, whereas thebottom View shows the toggle clamp in engagement with the sign andholding it in place against the frame assembly 1l. The type of clampshown in FIGURE 6 consists of a pintle 6@ upon which is slidinglymounted a clamp element 61 which has laterally extended from its baseclamping arms 62 and 62. The clamp element has a cavity 63 which permitsthe clamp element to be slideably and pivotally mounted upon pintle 60.One end of the pintle is attached to a mounting flange 64 to which it isattached by riveting or other suitable fastening means 72. The other endof the pintle 60 is provided with a collar which functions as a stop forone end of the coil spring 65. The other end of the coil spring 65engages with an annular shoulder 66 mounted in an internal recessprovided at the base end of the cavity 63. On the free end of pintle 6uis mounted an upstanding arm 67 which is diametrically positionedthereon. The inner end of cavity 63 has formed therein a channel 68conforming to the same general configuration of upstanding arm 67 suchthat arm 67, when 90 displaced from the axis of the channel 68 functionsas a stop to hold the clamp 6l in the open position. Upon rotating theclamp 6l, 90 with respect to pintle 6i), the upstanding arm 67 comesinto registration with the channel trough 68 and permits the clampassembly to move down into cooperative position with the mounting flange64 which is attached to the face of the frame assembly 11. Suitablefastening means, such as rivets 69, which have concavities 7'@ thereincooperating with pointed pins 71 which.

function as the barb-like boss S1 in the clamping assembly discussed inFIGURE 4 to hold the placard 12 in place. Instead of a slot-likeaperture, the face of the placard 12 is provided with a hole 73 having aconfiguration substantially the same as the traverse cross-section ofthe cap assembly taken through that portion of the cap having theclamping arm 62 extending therefrom. This permits the placard to beplaced over the clamping assembly and clamped in position by therotation of the cap element which is biased into a clamping position bymeans of the coil spring 65.

Although this invention has been described with reference to severalillustrative embodiments, it is evident that variations andmodiiications can be made by those skilled in the art to which itpertains without departing from the scope of the invention. Although itis preferred that the sign placard be made of a stiff material such ascardboard, sheet metal, plastic or the like, cloth signs can also beused. Generally, the apertures which engage the mounting clamp do notrequire reinforcing around their edges. It may be necessary in certaininstances to provide such reinforcement by grommeting or the like,especially where cloth or thin plastic sheeting is used for constructingthe placard. In addition, the means for attaching the frame assembly toa pole sign is intended as only illustrative. The principles of thisinvention can be utilized for a variety or advertising displayinstallations which permit and which use different types of sign hangingbrackets for the installation of the sign-holding assembly of thisinvention on a suitable standard which may consist of a single pole asillustrated or other standards available for the hanging of the assemblyat a suitable place. Although a rectangular frame assembly is shown,other geometric outlines can be used and, if desired, a solid supportcan be employed instead of the open framework. Conventional materials ofconstruction can be utilized for manufacturing the various components ofthis invention. However, where a toggle clamp such as shown in FIGURE 4is employed, the base member 40 is prepared from a metal having asuilicient resiliency in order to give the outer arms the actionnecessary for the biasing etect produced by them on the clamping arm.Accordingly, it is intended that the instant invention be limited onlyin the manner set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In an advertising sign construction for removably attaching a placardsign having disposed in the face thereof a plurality of mountingapertures, a display sign-holding assembly which comprises a signsupport means having a rectangular frame fabricated from at least onethin, narrow bar having a planar face upon which the sign rests, aplurality of toggle clamps mounted on said planar face in spacedrelation each to the other in a pattern conforming with the pattern ofsaid mounting aperture, said toggle clamps comprising a pair of spacedresilient arms attached to said planar face, a toggle arm having a pairof trunnions laterally depending from said arm engaging said resilientarms, said trunnions having a width to thickness ratio of greater thanone whereby said arm can be held in sign-installing position normal tosaid face, and

be pivoted into a biased clamping position substantially parallel to andin cooperation With said planar area.

2. In an advertising sign in accordance with claim 1 in which the freeend of said toggle arm has an arcuate configuration.

3. In an advertising sign in accordance with claim 2 in which saidarcuate free end has a boss-like protuberance for engaging said placardsign.

4. 1n an advertising sign in accordance with claim 1 in which the end ofsaid toggle arm adjacent said trunnions has extending substantiallynormal from said arm a finger to limit the replicate positioning of saidarm.

5. In an advertising sign construction for removably attaching a placardsign having disposed in the face thereof a plurality of mountingapertur, a display sign-holding assembly which comprises a sign supportmeans comprising a rectangular frame comprising top and bottom atfacedbar members held in spaced relation by a pair of at-faced side barmembers, means for attaching said frame to an upright standard, aplurality of toggle clamps mounted on said planar face in spacedrelation each to the other in a pattern conforming with the pattern ofsaid mounting apertures, a base member mounted on the face of said barmembers, a pair of spaced resilient arms and an intermediate arm, eachof said spaced arms having a curved free end, a toggle arm having tiattrunnions laterally extending from one end thereof and engaging saidcurved ends of said spaced arms, said toggle arm having a shank portionoverlying said intermediate arm and an arcuate free end, said arm beingadapted to be held in sign-installing position normal to said face, andbe pivoted into a biased clamping position substantially parallel to andin cooperation With said planar area, and means depending from the endof said toggle arm adjacent said trunnions for preventing the replicatepositioning of said arm, and means on said arcuate end of said togglearm for extending beyond the face thereof for frictionally engaging asign mounted in said sign-holding assembly.

6. In an advertising sign in accordance with claim 5 in which the axisof said trunnions is normal to the longitudinal axis of the bar membersto which the toggle clamps are attached.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS374,749 Ockford Dec. 13, 1887 436,600 Hartman Sept. 16, 1890 635,278Hart Oct. 17, 1899 827,785 Carey Aug. 7, 1906 1,265,674 Klingel May 7,1918 1,439,982 Shrauger Dec. 26, 1922 1,584,710 Adams May 18, 19261,788,278 Cortelyou Ian. 6, 1931 1,847,215 Hoerr Mar. 1, 1932 2,566,465Robbins Sept. 4, 1951 2,941,324 Waxgiser June 21, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS1,060,239 Germany June 25, 1959

1. IN AN ADVERTISING SIGN CONSTRUCTION FOR REMOVABLY ATTACHING A PLACARDSIGN HAVING DISPOSED IN THE FACE THEREOF A PLURALITY OF MOUNTINGAPERTURES, A DISPLAY SIGN-HOLDING ASSEMBLY WHICH COMPRISES A SIGNSUPPORT MEANS HAVING A RECTANGULAR FRAME FABRICATED FROM AT LEAST ONETHIN, NARROW BAR HAVING A PLANAR FACE UPON WHICH THE SIGN RESTS, APLURALITY OF TOGGLE CLAMPS MOUNTED ON SAID PLANAR FACE IN SPACEDRELATION EACH TO THE OTHER IN A PATTERN CONFORMING WITH THE PATTERN OFSAID MOUNTING APERTURE, SAID TOGGLE CLAMPS COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACEDRESILIENT ARMS ATTACHED TO SAID PLANAR FACE, A TOGGLE ARM HAVING A PAIROF TRUNNIONS LATERALLY DEPENDING FROM SAID ARM ENGAGING SAID RESILIENTARMS, SAID TRUNNIONS HAVING A WIDTH TO THICKNESS RATIO OF GREATER THANONE WHEREBY SAID ARM CAN BE HELD IN SIGN-INSTALLING POSITION NORMAL TOSAID FACE, AND BE PIVOTED INTO A BIASED CLAMPING POSITION SUBSTANTIALLYPARALLEL TO AND IN COOPERATION WITH SAID PLANAR AREA.